Bid to lift Wrexham Council social media ban

MOVES have been made to end Wrexham Council’s ban on the use of social media during meetings.

Currently Standing Order 45 of the council’s constitution prohibits broadcasting or transmitting from any meetings without the consent of the chair.

Wrexham’s Independent Group has submitted a motion to the council asking it to suspend or delete the standing order so social media can be used at all public meetings.

The ban was introduced after Gwersyllt West councillor Arfon Jones was rebuked for using Twitter during an executive board meeting in December.

Cllr David Bithell, leader of the Wrexham Independent Group, said: “It’s quite clear Wrexham Council is out of touch and this needs to be debated by members of the council for consideration.”

The motion will go before the council at its monthly meeting on January 21.

The motion reads: “We the undersigned call on members to delete or suspend Standing Order 45 of the Council’s Constitution which prohibits the broadcasting or transmitting from any meetings without the consent of the chair.

“We believe that there should be a presumption that ‘social media’ can be used to transmit or broadcast information from all council meetings to which the press and public have access.

“We further call on officers to prepare a policy and or amendment to the constitution on the use of social media by councillors including the press and public and to bring a report and draft policy or constitutional amendment back to a future council meeting for consideration.”